Ceiling structure



Nov. 3, 1959 K. M. MccoRK-:LL 3

CEILING STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 23, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 6 9 m z// /a T a T IN V EN TOR.

Nov. 3, 1959 K. M. MccoRK-:LL 2,910,738

CEILING STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 25, 1957 2 Shouts-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent O" CEILING STRUCTURE Kenneth M. McCo-kell, Dulutl, Minn.

Application January 23, 1957, Serial No. 635,771

2 Claims. (Cl. 20-4) My invention relates generally to building construction and more specifically to a novel ceiling.

An important object of my invention is the provision of a novel ceiling which is so electrically wired at the time of installation as to permit connection of fixtures or electrically-operated apparatus at any desired location thereunder, with a minimum of eifort and with a minimum of additional wiring and conduit therefor.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a ceiling construction of the class above described which is relatively easy to install, and which is entirely pleasing in appearance.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class immediately above described' wherein relatively temporary or relatively permanent walls or partitions may be installed and removed.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described including a plurality of rigid pipe elements, means for mounting said pipe elements in spaced parallel horizontally dsposed relationship to the superstructure of a room above the level of the floor thereof, a depending hanger bracket carried by each of said pipe elements, each of said brackets including vertical supporting legs, means in the upper end of said legs for detachably securing same to a cooperating one of said pipe elements, and horizontally dsposed tubular beams at the lower ends of said legs which extend longitudinally of their cooperating pipe elements, opposite side portions of said beams providing supporting shelves, and in further combination with ceiling-forming panels intermediate said brackets with their opposite edges resting upon and loosely supported by opposed shelves of adjacent beams.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class immediately above described in further combination with a rigid tubular connecting member between said parallel pipe elements, and electrical conduits in said pipe elements and said connecting members, the points of connection between said pipe elements and said connecting members being formed to provide electrcal outlet boxes to facilitate connection of electrically operated apparatus and fixtures at substantially any desired location under the ceiling constructed in accordance with my invention, with a minimum of elfort and with a minimum of additional wiring.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class immediately above described in which said beams are formed from sheet metal, opposite free end portions thereof defining a bottom wall, said bottom wall being formed to provide spaced parallel guide channels separated by an elongated slot, and in further combination with a carriage in said tubular beams the rollers of which run in said guide channels, and a flexible tie element carried by said carriage and depending therefrom through said slot, whereby a flexible wall-forming curtain or the like may be readily extended or retracted.

A further object of my invention' is the provision of a device of the class immediately above described in which the bottom walls of the tubular beams are formed matching sheet metal sections, the upper ends of which define alternately the pipe elements, or opposed arcuate jaws adapted to nestingly receive opposite sides of a cooperating pipe element and means securing the legforming portions of said sections together.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class immediately above described in which the bottom wall of the tubular beams are formed to provide laterally spaced downwardly and laterally outwardly opening recesses on opposite sides of said slot, and in further combination with a relatively permanent wall element, said wall element including rigidly spaced side-forming members one each of which is received within one of said recesses, a cross head extending between the side-forming members and immediately underlying said beam, and a toggle bolt extending upwardly through said cross head and into the interior of said beam through said slot, the toggle links on said toggle bolt adapted to engage the bottom of said beam on opposite sides of said slot.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, attached drawings and appended claims.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout several views:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in bottom plan of a ceiling constructed in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section and partly in side elevation as seen substantially from the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, some parts being removed,

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 but showing a modified arrangement,

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 showing a further modified arrangement.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View in side elevation as seen from the right to the left with respect to Fig. 4, some parts being removed,

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 but showing a still further modified arrangement, and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in side elevation as seen from the right to the left with respect to Fig. 6, on a reduced scale.

Referrng with greater particularity to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, the numeral 1 indicates the ceiling or other superstructure of a room to which is Secured by means of wires or other tie members 2, a plurality of spaced parallel horizontally dsposed pipe elements 3 which are connected by transverse tubular connecting members 4. Both the pipe elements 3 and the tubular connecting members 4 contain connecting electrical conduits 5. The points of connection between the tubular pipe elements 3 and the tubular connecting members 4 are formed to provide electrical out let boxes 6 so as to permit outlet connections 7 at closely spaced points throughout a room for connection to electrical appliances and the like, as desired.

Preferably, and as shown, the tubular pipe elements 3 form an integral part of hanger brackets.identified in their entirety by the numeral 8. Hanger brackets 8 include depending vertical supporting legs 9 and horizontally dsposed tubular beams 10. Pipe elements 3, supporting legs 9, and tubular beams 10 are, as shown, formed from a single elongated sheet of metal, the legs 9 thereof being Secured together by any suitable means such as bolts or rivets. The free end portions of the metal sheets making up the hanger brackets 8 form the bottoms 11 of the tubular be'ams 10, the extreme free edges 12 thereof being in upturned parallel relationship to define a slot 13 between parallel guide channels 14. The bottom 11 is also preferably formed to provide laterally outwardly and downwardly opening longitudnally extended recesses 15 on opposite sides of the guide channels 14, the importance of which will hereinafter be made apparent.

Mounted within one or more of the tubular beams 10 are carriages identified in their entirety by the numeral 16 and including spaced rollers 17 which run in the spaced guide channels 14. Carried by and depending from the carriages 16 through the slots 13 are a desired number of flexible tie elements 18 which, as shown, are provided with hooks 19 for engagement with the upper edge portion of a flexible curtain or the like, not shown. With this arrangement, obviously a partition-forming curtain may be readily extended or retracted at will to separate a room in any desired manrer.

To complete a ceiling with the arrangement above described, the ceiling-forming panele 20 are positioned between the several tubular beams 10 with opposite odges thereof being loosely received upon and supported by the oppositely projecting shelf-forming portions 21 of the beams 10.

The overall appearance of the ceilng structure above described is that of a ceiling having depending beams and is not only extremely utilitarian, but attractive. Obviously, when it is desired to get to one of the electrical outlet boxes 6, it is but necessary to push upwardly upon any one or a desired number of the ceiling-forming panels 20. Replacement of the panels 20 is just as simple. Direct lighting effects of various types are also obtainable with this novel ceiling. As shown in Fig. 1, several of the ceiling-forming panels 20 have been replaced with a glass 22 in immediately overlying relation to which is a neon tube 23 connected to the electrical conduit through the lead 7. Other types of lights such as spotlights could be substituted for the neon tube 23.

In the structure of Fig. 3, transverse connecting members in the nature of solid rods 24 are substituted for the tubular connecting member 4 of Figs. 1 and 2. With this arrangement, the electrical conduits 5' are received within the tubular beams In this arrangement, inasmuch as the carriage has been omitted from the particular tubular beam 10' a cover plate 25 is utilized to close the slot 13.

In the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the same tubular beam 10 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is utilized and like parts, therefore, are identified by like numerals. As there shown, a relatively permanent wall structure, identified in its entirety by the numeral 26, includes a pair of laterally spaced upstandng relatively rigid side-forming members 27 one each of which is received within one of the laterally spaced outwardly and downwardly opening recesses 15. To lock the wall 26 in position with respect to its cooperating tubular beam 10 are provided toggle bolts 28 which extend up wardly through cross heads 29, connecting the sideforming members 27 of the wall 26. The screw threaded upper end 30 of the toggle bolt 28 projects through the slot 13 into the interior of the tubular beam 10 wherein the toggle links 31 thereof engage the bottom 14 of the r beam -10 on opposite sides of the slot 13. In this arrangement, other parts not specifically herein described, but which are similar to those specifically described with respect to Figs. 1 to 3, bear the same identifications.

In the still further modified structures of Figs. 6 and 7, the pipe element shown is identified by the numeral 32. However, the hanger bracket 33 is formed from matching sections of sheet metal to defined cooperating arcuate jaws 34 adapted to nestingly receive opposite sides of the pipe element 32, depending legs sections 35 Secured together by means of rivets or the like 36, and tubular beam-forming sections 37. In this arrangement, the sections 37 are bent laterally outwardly in opposite direc tions to provide relatively shallow supporting shelves 38 for the loose' reception of the ceiling-forming panels 20 or the like. By this arrangernent, the appearance of a beamed ceiling is aveided.

Having described my invention with the definiteness and certainty required by statuto, what I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a plurality of rigid pipe elements, means for mounting said pipe elements in spaced parallel horizontally disposed relationship to the superstructure of a room above the level of the floor thereof, a depending hanger bracket carried by each of said pipe elements, each of said brackets including vertical supporting legs, means at the upper ends of said legs for detachably securing same to a cooperating one of said pipe elements, horizontally disposed tubular beams at the lower ends of said legs which extend longitudinally of their cooperating pipe elements, opposite side portions of said beams providing supporting shelves, ceiling forming panels intermediate said brackets with their opposite edges supported by opposed shelves of adjacent beams, said beams being formed from sheet metal, opposite tree end portions thereof defining the bottom wall, said bottom wall being formed to provide spaced parallel guide channels separated by an elongated slot, a carriage in one of said tubular beams, laterally spaced roller elements associated with said carriage running in said guide channels, and a flexible tie element carried by said carriage and depending therefrom through said slot.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said hanger brackets are formed from opposed matching sheet metal sections, the upper end of which define opposed arcuate jaws adapted to nestingly receive opposite sides of said pipe elements, and means securing the les-forming portions of said sections together.

References cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,669,111 White May 8, 1928 1,997,58l Heeren Apr. 16, 1935 2,12l,037 Kotrbaty June 21, 1938 2,403,580 Cartwright July 9, 1946 2,569,807 Wakeeld Nov. 17, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 676,265 Great Britain July 23, 1952 

